Fastener



Jne 7, 1949.r H. E. DIAPER FASTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet v1 Filed AMarch 15, 1944 June 7, 1949. H, E, DlAPER `2,472,651

FASTENER Filed March 15 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l June 7,1949. H, E, DIAPER 2,472,651

FASTENER Filed March 15, 1944 l 4 Shets-Sheet 3 June 7, 1949. H. E. DIAPER 2,472,651

FASTENER Y Filed March 15, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENER land, a British company Application March 15, 1944, Serial No. 526,593

In Great Britain March 17, 1943 (Cl. 24g-2,21)

6 Claims.

This invention relates to fasteners for use in securing two parts together.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a fastener suitable for securing surface Darts of an aircraft together in such a way that, while the fastener may be readily actuated, it is flush with the surface. A fastener so constructed may be used with advantage for securing the cowling to the engine-supporting structure of the aircraft or for securing a stressed panel in an aircraft wing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener Which is capable of transmitting the very considerable shear loads that arise in the stressed coverings of aircraft; wings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener which can readily be released by pressure on a push-button or the equivalent but which will securely hold the two parts together till it is released.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the following description, when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectiona1 elevation of one form of fastener;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of part of a second form of fastener;

Figure 3 is a plan showing the part appearing in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan of a third form of fastener;

Figure 5 is a section on the line V--V in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a fourth form of fastener;

Figure 8 is a plan of the fastener in Figure '7 as viewed from below; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan showing means whereby the fastener of Figures '7 and 8 may be operated.

The fastener in Figure 1 secures a panel I to a framework comprising a member 2. The panel I may, for example, be part of the covering of an aircraft wing having a stressed skin, and the member 2 may be a portion of, or secured to, the framework of the wing. The fastener comprises two components, one secured to each part to be fastened by the fastener. The rst component includes a tubular projection 3 formed with a ange 4 secured by countersunk rivets 5 to the panel I. The second component comprises a tubular socket 6 having a ange 'I riveted to the member 2, and in operation the projection 3 lies inside the socket 6. It will be seen that the projection 3 includes cylindrical surfaces 3a and 3b joined by a conical surface 3c. The projection 3 is maintained. in engagement with the socket 6 by two radially movable locking elements in the form of bolts 8 that project laterally from the projection 3, so that conical faces of the bolts 8 engage inclined cam surfaces 9 formed inside the socket 6. The tubular projection 3 contains a press-button member comprising a head Illa connected by a shank IIlb to an enlarged portion Ic, and when the fastener is in action, this enlarged portion Illc lholds the bolts 8 in the positions shown in Figure 1 by virtue of its interposition between the inner ends of the bolts 8. The outer surface of the head Ia, when the press-button is in this position, is ush with the outer edge 1l of a backward extension I3 of the projection 3 that lies within a corresponding aperture 'Ill in the panel I, this outer edge, in turn, being flush with the exposed surface of the panel I. Thus, the outer surface of the head Illa and the edge of the extension I3 present a smooth and streamlined extension of the outer surface of the panel I. The press-button is held in the position shown in Figure 1 by a spring I4 formed with two helices I4a secured by rivets l5 to the fiange 1 on the socket 6. The helices I 4a merge into a cross wire I4b which isy the portion of the spring I4 that actually engages the press-button I0 to hold a flange Ind at the inner extremity thereof in engagement with the inner end of the tubular projection 3, the latter being formed internally with a ange I8 that guides the enlarged portion Ic when the press-button is forced inwards against the resilientaction of the spring I4.

In order to release the panel I, the head Illa is pushed inwards against the action of the spring It untila conical portion Ille, that joins the enlarged portion IUC of the press-button member to the shank Ib, lies beyond the bolts 8 to such an extent that the bolts can recede far enough into the tubular projection 3 to be withdrawn from the socket 6. This movement, which is conveniently effected by thumb pressure on the head ma, is suicient to cause the latter to become wedged in a tapered internal surface 20 formed on the tubular'projection 3. Thus, the thumb pressure can be removed entirely before the parts of the fastener are separated, because the frictional engagement of the tapered surface 20 with the periphery of the head Illa prevents the spring I4 from returning the press-button member It to the position relatively to thetubular projection 3 shown in Figure 1.. If the panel l is free to move, however, the spring I4 partially ejects the projection 3 and press-button member I 0 as a unit from the socket 6. lThe fastener is thereupon no longer in a condition to prevent the panel I from being lifted away from the member 2. As the projection 3 is ejected or Withdrawn from the socket 6, the cam action of the inclined surfaces 9, in the socket 6, on the -exposed ends of the bolts 8 causes the latter to slide through guides 12 in the wall' of the 'projection 3 towards the shank Ib which, by virtue of the inward position of the press-button, is now in register with the inner ends of the bolts 8. When the tubular projection 3 has been Withdrawn a certain distance -through the socket S, the in ner extremity Illd oi the press-button separates from the cross wire Mb and ultimately the bolts 8 and the inner end of the enlarged portion Ic of the pressbutton, as well as the inner end. of the tubular projection 3, are clear of the member 2 and the socket 6. The flange IIJd at the inner end of the press-button member I is then exposed so that the head Illa can be eased from the tapered surface 20. However, a spiral tensionV spring 2|, whicliis stressed when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1 but which is not sulciently lstrong to overcome themain spring I4, maintains the press-button in the position in which the enlarged portion IDc lies beyond the bolts 8 and this ensures'that the bolts 8 are not held in such a position as to prevent the projection 3 frombeing returned to its operative position. It will be seen that the spiral spring 2I is anchored at one end in a groove 22 within the tubular projection 3 and at the other end between the head Illa of thepress-button and a flange If near the upper end of the shank Illb. When the projection 3 is free from the socket E and from the member 2, the bolts 8 are prevented from falling outwards and away from the tubular projection 3 by flanges 24 at the inner ends of the bolts.

When it is desired to return thepanel I to the position in which it is locked to the member 2, the projection 3 is thrust into the socket 6, and if the bolts 8 happen to be projecting too far outwards from the projection 3 they are returned to their inner positions by inclined cam surfaces 25 formed inside the socket 6. However, as the movement approaches its end and the bolts 6 pass into register with the inclined cam surfaces 9 at the inner end of the socket 6, the cross wire I 4b of the main spring I4 acts once more on the press-button I0 to return it to the position shown in Figure 1 against the action of the tension spring 2|. The conical surface Ille on the pressbutton therefore moves relatively to the projection 3 so as to engage the flanges 24 on the bolts 8 and thrust the latter outwards until they are in the locking position, shown in Figure 1, in which they securely engage the inclined cam surfaces 9 n the socket 6.

A particular advantage of the construction shown in Figure 1 is that the fastener will withstand very substantial shear loads, which is necessary in view of the great shear stresses that arise in the stressed coverings of aircraft wings. One reason for this ability to withstand large shear `stresses is that the aperture necessary to receive the extension I3 of the projection 3 is lined by that extension I3 which, in turn, is internally reinforced by the head I 0a of the pressbutton member I0. Furthermore, the surface 3a of the projection 3 is a neat sliding fit in an extension 26 of the socket 6 that fits within a corresponding aperture 13 in the member 2.

If 'a fastener in accordance with the invention is not required to withstand large shear loads, a

socket 6 of the nature shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be employed. This socket is formed with a diamond-shaped plate 21 and with inclined internal surfaces 91 and 251 corresponding to the surfaces 9 and 25 in Figure 1. The plate 21 is free to undergo transverse: .movement relatively to a member 21, which corresponds to' the member 2 in Figure 1 in tha-t the member 2 is the one to which a panel (not shown) is to be secured. To provide this freedom of movement the member 21 is formed with anopening 30 providing substantial clearance with respect to an external surface 3I of the socket at 61. Furthermore, the diamond-shaped plate 21 is held against the member 21 by 'anges 32 on members 33 which are riveted to the member 21 and which pass through holes 34v in the plate 21, these holes providing very substantial clearance relatively to the members 33. The main spring I4 corresponding to the spring I4 in Figure 1 is secured to the plate 2'! at the localities 35 (Figure 3) and comprises a cross wire |412 for engaging the inner end of the press-button member,

As the socket S1 shown in Figures 2 and 3 is free to undergo limited movement transversely to the fastener axis, the tubular projection secured to the panel corresponding to the panel I (Figure 1) or the like does not have vto be so accurately fitted as in the construction of Figure 1 where the two main parts of the fastener must register exactly with each other.

The fastener shown in Figures 4 to 6 is in many respects similar to that shown in Figure 1, and the same reference numerals are used for i parts exactly corresponding to similar parts appearing in Figure l. The main difference between the two constructions consists in the manner in which the press-button is automatically latched in its inner position after it has been thrust inwards against the action of the main spring I4 to enable the tubular projection 3Z to be withdrawn from the socket 6. The arrangement is such that, when pressure is manually applied to the head 14 of the press-button 15, this pressure is not applied axially but to the side of the press-button indicated by an index 40 (Figure 4) marked on the exposed edge of the extension I3 of the tubular projection 3. The result of this is that, when the head 14 has been moved inwards far enough for the enlarged portion Ic and conical part Ille of the pressbutton to be clear of the bolts 8e, the press-button is permitted to tilt slightly by a recess 4I formed on the side of the internal surface of the tubular projection 3 corresponding to the index 48, Accordingly, the top of the adjacent edge of the head 14 engages beneath the top surface 42 of the recess 4I as soon as the pressure on the pressbutton is released, the main spring I4 providing sufficient pressure to maintain the head 14 tightly in engagement with the surface 42 so that the press-button is held securely in the position in which the bolts 8"i are free to move inwards towards the axis of the projection 3. In this case, the spiral spring 2 IB, which is expanded axially when the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 5, serves the additional function of returning the press-button member ID to the position in which it is coaxial with the socket 6. This occurs when the projection 32 has been removed suiiiciently far from the socket 5 for the flange ld at the inner end of the pressbutton member to be substantially separated from the main spring I4. In other words, as soon as the main spring I4 ceases to exert the outward regata-feel n thrust necessary; tofmaintainttheihead'lktightly i in. engagementffwith 4"thezfsurtace thetnstherspiral `in Figuref. The lowermostandf,largestf'convolu tion of spring 2la is seatedtilpon a shoulder' F15 of the tubular member 32.

.A minor difference between the construction of Figures-i to 6 and the constrructioniof'iF-igure 1 is that the boltsSa arefjprevented from escaping from the tubular projecirlonv 32 by flanges t3 onthe member 32 thatzzien'gage angesgfMron the bolts.

-W hen -agpanel is heldliingposition byiiiamumber of fasteners of the kind described above with reference to Figures 1 to 6 and it is desired to remove the panel, it is necessary to push inwards the press-buttons in the fasteners in turn. The panel can then be lifted away from its supportstructure, but, when the panel is once more to be secured to the structure, it is simply necessary to move the panel so as to cause the tubular projections to slide into their associated fastener 30 sockets until the press-buttons are thrust outwards to their latching positions whereupon the panel is again securely mounted. In some circumstances, however, it may be desirable to arrange for the fasteners also to be simultaneously 3 released, thus avoiding the necessity for the operator to actuate the fasteners in succession. Such an arrangement is shown in Figures '7 to 9. Referring first to Figures 7 and 8, it will be seen that these show a fastener which, like the fast- 40 eners of the preceding figures, includes a tubular projection 33 which ts into a tubular socket 61 and carries sliding bolts 8 that are held in engagement with inclined cam surfaces 9 by an enlarged end portion lf of a plunger member il@ axially slidable in the tubular projection 33. rl`his plunger member lli) is equivalent to the press-button members shown in Figures 1 and in that, besides the enlarged portion Nif, it inciudes a shank lilla of reduced diameter, connected by a conical portion 10e to the enlarged portion luf. However, the plunger member is formed with no head to be engaged by the operators thumb, but the shank Ib extends upwards into a small opening 80 in a wall 45 that closes the top of the tubular projection 33. A compression spring 45, located between the wall 45 and a flange el on the shank lllb, tends normally to urge the plunger member downwards, as viewed in Figure 7. Such movement, however, is prevented by a main spring I4f comprising a helix lfig (secured to the flange 11 on the socket (il), a cross wire 14h (engaging the base of the enlarged portion lf of the plunger member), and a bend 48 that embraces a cable 49. This main spring holds the plunger member H0 with the flange 41 in engagement with a shoulder 50. When it is desired to undo the fastener, the cable its is pulled in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 8 so that a collar 5I, secured to the cable t9, pushes on the bend 48 of the main spring lll and swings the cross wire 14h to the position shown in chain lines in Figure 8. The cross wire lith is therefore moved clear of the plunger member H0 so that the compression spring 46 6 `thrusts y.the lplunger member :downwards :to :sa l .position in'oyhichthe: angezll l; engages aishoul'der .i52zinpthe' tubular projection Theisharnkrjinb of a the plunger vmember isthen l in register i; 5 :.thet-:bolts ft, which-farei freer to;- slide'` inwards7 clear .of thesocketl A visual :indication iis fgiven '-ofttheifa'ctithat: the fastener.. has thus-bee lunrdone cby the 'disappearance of the rrendlof fthe shank: Mib. from Athe i lopening in fthe 1expose1dswall .10145.

l'Wherr'it ;'isf-'desired once more .to l secure @the fastener; thectension inthe .cable 49. is relaxedtto f .allow l the e `main .f spring *i to e' return to i its y.original position lin :which the across 'wire `l4h is rintthe positonpfshown'in full linesin Figurerru. fThen, when the tubular projection 33` isithrust intothe ,1 socket-5' fan enough for the. endv I Bf ofthe plunger member l` llizto engagea the 4cross wire:v lfclhzgandrfor ftheizbolts 8J tov engage the incline'dsurfaces'. Sion the socket the plunger member is .returned .tozthe .positionshown j in Figure '7 "by the'. abutment provided by the cross wire I4h.

Figure 9 shows diagrammatically the manner in which the cable 49 is associated with a series of fasteners for securing a stressed panel to a wing framework to which are secured the sockets 5' of the fasteners. The cable 49 carries a series of collars 5i which coact respectively with the bends 4S at the ends of the cross wires I4h on the main springs of the various fasteners, and the cable 49 extends from a point X and, after traversing a line of nine fastener sockets, passes round a guide pulley 53 and then traverses five more fastener sockets to another guide pulley 5 54. After passing round this pulley the cable traverses seven more fastener sockets to a third pulley 55 and then, after passing ve more sockets, terminates at a press-button 56 indicated diagrammatically in Figure 9. By operating this press-button 5S the cable 69 may be tensioned to deflect the cross wires 14h and release the fasteners.

What I claim is: 1. A fastener for securing two panels together comprising a tubular projection secured to one panel, locking means carried by said tubular projection and being arranged to move substantially laterally of said tubular projection, a press-button member carried by said tubular projection and movable substantially axially thereof, said press-button member having an enlarged portion for projecting said elements when moved therebetween, and a narrow portion for permitting the elements to be retracted when the enlarged portion is shifted out of the way, spring means reacting between said tubular projection and pressbutton member tending to move the enlarged portion out of the way of said elements, and means on the other panel arranged to move said 60 press-button member against the action of said spring means to a position where the enlarged portion projects said locking elements.

2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that said last named means comprises a coil spring with a cross wire projecting in the path of said press-button member.

3. A fastener for securing two panels together comprising a tubular projection secured to one of the panels, locking elements carried by said tubular projection and arranged to move substantially laterally of said tubular projection, a press-button member carried by said tubular projection and movable axially thereof, said press-button having an enlarged portion to spread and project said elements and a narrower portion to permit the 7 elements to move inwardly, a tubular socket secured to the other panel and of a complemental size and shape to receive said tubular projection, said tubular socket having an inwardly projecting Wall portion for engagement by said tubular projection on one side and by said elements When projected on the other side, a cross member carried by said socket and extending in the path of said press-button member to shift the press-button member to position projecting said elements.

4. A fastener as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a spring in the tubular projection acting between said projection and the press-button member tending to move the press-button member to a position permitting the retraction of said locking elements.

5. A fastener as claimed in claim 3 in which the cross member is carried upon the outer ends of coil springs aixed to the panel carrying the socket member.

6. A fastener as claimed in claim 3 wherein a 8 flexible connection is attached to the cross member for moving it out of the axial line of said press-button member.

HERBERT EDWARD DIAPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the ie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 854,073 Bruckner et al. May 21, 1907 1,425,618 Vodicka Aug. 15, 1922 2,252,286 Hathorn Aug. 12, 1941 2,270,403 Bignell Jan. 20, 1942 2,337,457 Dzus Dec. 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,321 Great Britain Apr. 10, 1907 23,646 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1905 

